COSTA Coffee has become the latest major chain to announce it will be closing the majority of its branches due to coronavirus.

The coffee chain announced this morning that from this evening its UK cafes would temporarily close, with some hospital branches staying open.

It comes after store managers set up a petition on Change.org in a bid to get all its cafes shut.

A message from chief executive Jill McDonald posted on the company's website today said at Costa Coffee the 'number one priority' wasthe safety of staff and customers.

He continued: "As the need to support social distancing increases, we have taken the decision to temporarily close our stores from this evening, Monday 23 March."

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Mr McDonald said the chain will 'do our best' to keep cafes open in hospitals and continue to provide free takeaway coffee for the next two weeks to the NHS workers who are 'at the forefront of this crisis'.

He added: "Wherever possible, we will also keep our Costa Express machines available to serve you a great cup of coffee."

On Costa employees Mr McDonald said all store team members, whose store has closed, will be paid their 'full average weekly pay over eight weeks'.

He added Costa would continue helping in the community and would be delivering one million cans of coffee to other key workers across the country.

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The chief executive concluded: "I want to take this opportunity to thank our store teams, who during a lot of uncertainty over the past few weeks have continued to provide a warm and welcoming environment, and great service to our loyal customers.

"To our customers, thank you for your ongoing support – we know these are difficult and unsettling times and through our community work we hope to be able to continue serving you, and your friends and families in some way."

Rival coffee chain Starbucks closed all of its stores across the UK on Friday following the government's announcement that all pubs, restaurants and cafes should shut.